Recording apparatus for magneto-optical disc and disc cartridge misinsertion preventing mechanism

Abstract

A magneto-optical disc recording apparatus for writing information signals on a disc includes an external magnetic field generator that moves in close to the disc after the disc begins to rotate and moves away from the disc before the disc stops rotating to prevent the external magnetic field generator from contacting the disc.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A recording apparatus for a magneto-optical disc comprising: a chassis of the recording apparatus;   a cartridge holder defining a cartridge holding portion into which is loaded a disc cartridge containing a magneto-optical disc and being movable toward and away from said chassis of the recording apparatus;   an optical head mounted on a movable block for movement along a radial direction relative to a disc loaded into said cartridge holder;   an external magnetic field generator including a magnetic head mounted at one end of a flexible support arm, the other end of said flexible support arm being attached to said movable block for movement with said optical head;   a lifter mechanism in contact with said flexible support arm for moving said magnetic head toward and away from a disc loaded into said cartridge holder;   control means operably connected to said lifter mechanism and being mounted on said chassis for controlling the operation of said lifter mechanism in response to the position of the disc cartridge in said cartridge holder, so that said magnetic head is moved toward and away from a disc loaded into said cartridge holder in response to movement of said cartridge holder;   lock means arranged on said chassis for controlling movement of said movable block having said optical head and said magnetic field generator mounted thereon during a cartridge loading operation of said cartridge holder; and   misinsertion detection means, said misinsertion detection means including a misinsertion detection portion extending into one side of said cartridge holding portion and being movable in a direction away from said cartridge holding portion of said cartridge holder by engagement with a notch formed on a corner of said disc cartridge when said disc cartridge is inserted into said cartridge holder and for engaging said disc cartridge when said disc cartridge is misinserted into said cartridge holder and preventing said misinserted disc cartridge from being further inserted into said cartridge holder, said misinsertion detection portion of said misinsertion detection means having a width larger than the width of a recess formed on a side of the disc cartridge on which said notch is formed.   
     
     
       2. A disc cartridge misinsertion preventing mechanism comprising; a cartridge holder defining a cartridge holding portion into which a disc cartridge is inserted and held, said disc cartridge having a notch formed at a corner on one side thereof for predetermining an insertion direction and having a recess formed on said one side thereof near the notch; and   misinsertion detection means having a misinsertion detection portion movable by engagement with said notch of the disc cartridge in a direction away from said cartridge holding portion of said cartridge holder when said disc cartridge is properly inserted into said cartridge holder, and engageable with said disc cartridge when said disc cartridge is misinserted into said cartridge holder for preventing said disc cartridge from being further inserted into said cartridge holder, said misinsertion detection portion of said misinsertion means having a width larger than a width of the recess formed in said disc cartridge, so that said misinsertion detection portion does not enter said recess.   
     
     
       3. A disc cartridge misinsertion preventing mechanism according to claim 2, wherein said cartridge holder includes shutter opening and closing means rotatably mounted on said cartridge holder for opening and closing a shutter of the disc cartridge, said shutter opening and closing means including a spring member having one end thereof mounted on said shutter opening and closing means and another end thereof mounted on said misinsertion detection means. 
     
     
       4. A disc cartridge misinsertion preventing mechanism according to claim 3, wherein said misinsertion detection portion of said misinsertion detection means projects into said cartridge holder. 
     
     
       5. A recording apparatus for a magneto-optical disc comprising: a chassis of the recording apparatus;   a cartridge holder defining a cartridge holding portion into which is loaded a disc cartridge containing a magneto-optical disc and being movable toward and away from said chassis of the recording apparatus;   an optical head mounted on a movable block for movement along a radial direction relative to a disc loaded into said cartridge holder;   an external magnetic field generator including a magnetic head mounted at one end of a flexible support arm, the other end of said flexible support arm being attached to said movable block for movement with said optical head;   a lifter mechanism in contact with said flexible support arm for moving said magnetic head toward and away from a disc loaded into said cartridge holder;   control means operably connected to said lifter mechanism and being mounted on said chassis for controlling the operation of said lifter mechanism in response to the position of the disc cartridge in said cartridge holder, so that said magnetic head is moved toward and away from a disc loaded into said cartridge holder in response to movement of said cartridge holder, said control means including a lift bar extending under said flexible support arm, so that said flexible support arm rests upon said lift bar in a lowered position and in a raised position of said external magnetic field generator and a plunger mechanism having a plunger support mounted on said chassis and a movable plunger, said lift bar being pivotally attached to said plunger support so that in an extended position of said movable plunger said lift bar is raised and in a drawn-in position of said movable plunger said lift bar is lowered; and   lock means arranged on said chassis for controlling movement of said movable block having said optical head and said magnetic field generator mounted thereon during a cartridge loading operation of said cartridge holder.   
     
     
       6. A recording apparatus for a magneto-optical disc comprising: a chassis of the recording apparatus;   an optical head mounted on a movable block for movement along a radial direction relative to a magneto-optical disc in the recording apparatus;   a loading mechanism including a cartridge holder defining a cartridge holder portion for loading and unloading a cartridge containing a magneto-optical disc into a recording portion of said recording apparatus;   an external magnetic field generator including a magnetic head mounted at one end of a flexible support, the other end of said flexible support arm being attached to said movable block for movement with said optical head radially relative to a magneto-optical disc loaded into said recording portion;   lifting means being in contact with said flexible support arm for lowering and raising said external magnetic field generator toward and away from the magneto-optical disc loaded in said recording portion;   control means attached to said lifting means and mounted on said chassis for controlling the operation of said lifting means in response to movement of said cartridge holder, said control means including a lift bar extending under said flexible support arm, so that said flexible support arm rests upon said lift bar in a lowered position and in a raised position of said external magnetic field generator, a plunger mechanism having a plunger support mounted on said chassis and a movable plunger, said lift bar being pivotally attached to said plunger support so that in an extended position of said movable plunger said lift bar is raised and in a drawn-in position of said movable plunger said lift bar is lowered; and   locking means on said chassis for controlling movement of said movable block having said optical head and magnetic field generator mounted thereon during a cartridge loading operation of said loading mechanism.   
     
     
       7. A magneto-optical disc recording apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said flexible support arm includes a projection extending from one end of said support arm, and said magnetic head device is mounted on said projection, so that said magnetic head device faces the magneto-optical disc. 
     
     
       8. A recording apparatus for a magneto-optical disc comprising: a chassis of the recording apparatus;   an optical head mounted on a movable block for movement along a radial direction relative to a magneto-optical disc in the recording apparatus;   a loading mechanism including a cartridge holder defining a cartridge holder portion for loading and unloading a cartridge containing a magneto-optical disc into a recording portion of said recording apparatus;   an external magnetic field generator including a magnetic head mounted at one end of a flexible support, the other end of said flexible support arm being attached to said movable block for movement with said optical head radially relative to a magneto-optical disc loaded into said recording portion;   lifting means being in contact with said flexible support arm for lowering and raising said external magnetic field generator toward and away from the magneto-optical disc loaded in said recording portion;   control means attached to said lifting means and mounted on said chassis for controlling the operation of said lifting means in response to movement of said cartridge holder;   locking means on said chassis for controlling movement of said movable block having said optical head and magnetic field generator mounted thereon during a cartridge loading operation of said loading mechanism; and   misinsertion detection means including a misinsertion detecting portion extending into one side of said cartridge holder portion and being movable in a direction out of said cartridge holder portion upon engagement with a notch formed on a corner of said cartridge when said cartridge is properly inserted into said cartridge holder and for engaging said cartridge when said cartridge is misinserted into said cartridge holder and preventing the misinserted cartridge from being further inserted into said cartridge holder, said misinsertion detection portion having a width greater than a width of a recess formed in a side of said cartridge on which said notch is formed.